Monday, June 27, 2011

Unusual Aluminum U-Channel?

I have a new product line in mind for ScopeRoller, and I need to make what is effectively a U out of sheets of 1/4" thick aluminum.  But it struck me that it would be faster to buy U-channel aluminum extrusions and cut them into 1/4" thick slices (perhaps machining them for evenness and dimensions).  What I would need, however, would be a U-channel that was 1/4" thick, with a 1 1/8" gap, and the legs would be 2-3" long.  That's an unusual size for a U-channel extrusion.  Any suggestions for an industry that uses something like that?

3 comments:

  1. http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum/=cxngfa


    McMaster Carr is your friend.

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  2. It took some hunting, but http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum/=cxsege seems the closest match: it would give me something that would have a space 1.25" wide. I actually need 1.125" wide. I could use http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum/=cxsf3w, but then I would have to machine out the slot, and the leg length is a bit shorter than I want. It's a good start. I will probably machine what works, then figure out the closest approximation by slicing some channel.

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  3. Do they have some flat tubing that will give the right dimensions if you saw off one short side? I have vague memories of having seen some of what was essentially a hollow aluminum bar.

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